More than 700 Fairfax County Residents Served in Hypothermia Shelters
This Winter

This winter, Fairfax County’s hypothermia prevention program served
724 people during a four-month period, ending March 31.

For the fourth winter in a row, the Fairfax County government, faith
groups, businesses and civic organizations collaborated in a unique
partnership to provide volunteers and warm, safe places throughout the
county where those with nowhere else to go could stay overnight.

This year’s hypothermia prevention program involved over 2,300
volunteers from 57 faith communities and 13 nonprofit and business
organizations. Winter-long hypothermia shelters were set up in three
locations to serve homeless individuals in the north, south and central
parts of the county. Individual faith communities provided additional
shelter space as needed starting in January. The county contracted with
several community-based organizations ― New Hope Housing, Ventures
in Community, Reston Interfaith, Volunteers of America and FACETS ―
to coordinate services and volunteers.

The hypothermia program supplements the county’s year-round effort to
provide shelter and services to homeless individuals and families.
The intent is to do everything possible to prevent anyone in Fairfax
County from suffering or dying from hypothermia during the
winter.

While continuing to help homeless individuals and families, the county
also is moving forward with its long-term strategic plan to prevent and
end homelessness within a decade.

On March 31, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors adopted the
Implementation Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness in the Fairfax-Falls
Church Community. This implementation plan identifies the basic actions
and commitments necessary to transform the current system and approach to
homelessness into a flexible, relationship-based and community-centered
system based on the principles of Housing First. This approach creates
more housing choices, prevents homelessness and integrates all needed
services into a coordinated and flexible support system.

For more information about preventing and ending homelessness, including
the full implementation plan and other resources, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/homeless.

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Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of
disability in all county programs, services and activities. To request
this information in an alternate format, call the Office of Public
Affairs at 703-324-3187, TTY 711.